August 29, 2017

Want to help the farmers and ranchers recover from the disaster of Hurricane Harvey from afar? Please donate to the State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund. Click here for more information.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has set up a Harvey Hotline: 512-719-0799 at the Animal Response Operation Coordination Center (AROCC). If you or someone you know is looking to volunteer, donate, offer shelter for animals, report live or dead animals please call the Harvey Hotline.

The 2017 NASDA Annual Meeting Policy Book is now available. This document contains the committee meeting agendas and work plans, as well as all policy amendments and action items which will be voted on during the meeting. This document and others are available on the NASDA Annual Meeting App (Search "NASDA Events" in your mobile phone app store).

Last week, EPA and the Corps of Engineers announced public input sessions for stakeholders to make recommendations on a revised definition of “waters of the United States.” The agencies will hold nine two-hour long teleconferences that will be tailored for specific sectors. The agriculture call is on October 17, 2017. Each will run from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. eastern time. Information on how to register for each of these meetings is available on the EPA website. Registration for each webinar will close a week prior.

NASDA is currently seeking applications for highly motivated public policy interns interested in learning about the legislation and regulations that impact American agriculture. There is one internship position available per semester and we are accepting applications for the upcoming spring semester (January - May). The deadline to apply for this semester is October 27, 2017. This full-time position is located in Arlington, Virginia.

Applicants should be classified as a sophomore or greater by their academic institution and have excellent written and oral communication skills. A basic understanding of the legislative process is preferred but not required.

Mexico is California’s largest trading partner and the fifth-largest export destination for California’s agricultural products, with a value exceeding $1 billion.

The meeting provided an opportunity to share common commitments and values as well as enhance ongoing cooperation on agricultural trade. California and Mexico share many agricultural issues – this meeting reaffirmed their partnership, and a commitment to farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers who benefit from the longstanding trade ties.

NASDA has a block of rooms reserved for invitees of the 2017 Tri-National Agricultural Accord at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel from October 17-19, 2017. Room rates are $178/night + tax.

Register and reserve your room at www.nasda.org/accord. The room block expires September 25, 2017. Making reservations by this deadline does not guarantee that a room will be available so it is recommended that you book your room as soon as possible. Sessions will begin at 1 PM MT on Tuesday, October 17 and conclude at 8:30 PM on Thursday, October 19. If you wish to make your reservation by calling the hotel directly, please call (800) 468-3571 or (303) 399-7500 and refer to the NASDA/Tri-National Accord group block to receive the block rate.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing emergency assistance in caring for animals – livestock and domesticated – in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. APHIS is working to aid producers and positioning staff in key areas in Texas and Louisiana where flooding may cause further damage. In addition, APHIS is helping to meet the emergency needs of pets and their owners, as inspectors are coordinating closely with zoos, breeders, and other licensed facilities in the region to ensure the safety of animals in their care.

On the livestock front, APHIS veterinarians are working alongside the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to conduct on-site assessments to document the needs of producers whose ranches were in the path of the storm. All needs assessments are being shared directly with the joint State-Federal Emergency Operations Center for tasking in order to provide prompt assistance. ...

Last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Perdue marked the 51st anniversary of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and announced USDA will be asking for input from the public to help determine potential updates to the law’s licensing requirements. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is tasked with upholding and enforcing the AWA. The AWA was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 24, 1966.

“As a trained veterinarian, humane standards of care for animals are close to my heart and central to my love and concern for our four-legged friends,” Perdue said. “Administering the AWA is a key USDA mission, and we are always looking for ways to improve. We welcome comments from the public as APHIS considers changes to the licensing requirements to help us fulfill this important responsibility.”

Each year, USDA issues nearly 6,000 licenses to people who breed, sell, or exhibit animals for ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) program released the Cooperative Screwworm Eradication Program environmental assessment (EA) for public review. In response to the elevated threat of infestation of screwworms to livestock and humans in the United States, APHIS proposes to participate cooperatively with state agriculture departments in localized actions designed to exclude and eradicate screwworms in the United States. Each eradication action will be adapted in response to the individual circumstances associated with the detection of persons or animals with myiasis.

The EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of alternatives for APHIS' involvement in screwworm eradication. The two alternatives considered for eradication of screwworms in the United States are (1) take no action or (2) implement a cooperative screwworm eradication program (APHIS’ preferred alternative).

These FREE! Sustainable Agriculture Lesson Plans are for grades 9-12 with the goal of increasing students' knowledge about the social, economic, environmental, and production components of sustainable farming and ranching in the 21st century.

At the end of each lesson, students will complete an Online Learning Experience that corresponds with the respective lesson plan.

NASDA prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities requiring alternative means of communication of program information should contact NASDA at 202-296-9680.